Folding canopy for vending stand trailers



July 28, 1959 5. J. SCHANTZ FOLDING CANOPY FOR VENDING STAND TRAILERS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1 E li/147 1 v v IHQENEI II U A soceAv-ss J.SCHHNTZ 5/ @w 2,896,706 V FOLDING CANOPY FOR VENDING STAND TRAILERSSocrates J. Schantz, St. Louis, Mo. Application April 1, 1957, SerialNo. 649,974

9 Claims. c1. 160-62) 9 This invention relates to folding canopies, andin particular is concerned with a folding or-collapsible canopy forvending stands, which are mounted upon a trailer and in which thecanopy'may be collapsed to a locking position where it closes up theopen windows of the stand.

This invention finds particular usefulness in providing a canopy forsmall vending stands which are transported from one location to another.Such vending stands may be mounted upon a trailer in well known fashionwhich because of their mobility are adapted to service any desiredlocality such as in the neighborhood of schools, athletic contests,etc., where people congregate and patronize the stand. Such standsconventionally vend hot dogs, soft drinks, ice cream and the like. Inthe past, it has been conventional to vend from an opened window at oneside of the stand. It is quite desirable to provide a top canopy or roofto protect the customer from the direct rays of, sunlight or possibleinclement weather. Also, through the use of a projecting roof theinterior of the stand may be'protected against the hazards of weather.

This invention 'provrdes a f olding canopy can be i easily set up -,tothe assembled position in arnatter of minutes after the stand hasbeenlocated in the desired position.- The canopy is of, arectangularconfiguration andhas what. may'be termed, an overlying roofportion and side members which-aid in the supporting of the roof member.By means or, the particular, construction of the foldingcanopy, the roofmember isfurther adapted to. be collaps ed from thegcanopy assernbledposition in such] a manner thatitmay be locked over the vending windowto a so-called boardingup position. This is quite desirable'when thevending stand is closeddown either over night to protect the contents orwhen the vending standis moved to another vending location. e a

The construction of the vending stand canopyis simple in nature andrugged so that it willreadilywithstand the rigors of transportation Asavery. desirable feature, it may he knockedfdownorcollap$d from-thecanopy position to the window boarding up position in a very shortperiodof time without'the requirement of any spe cial tools. Conversely, thecanopy may be assembled to United States Patent the final canopyposition from the boarded up position in a Very short period of time'byareversal ofthe opera:

tion. H Accordingly it is a primary object ofthis invention to, providea collapsible canopy for vending stands which is rugged inconstructionand simple to assemble. I r

It is a further object of this i'nventionto provide a collapsiblecanopyfor vendingstands and. the like comprising a roofmember and supportingside members in which theroof member may be collapsed to cover a vendingwindow and very simply locked in place.

Yet another object of this invention, is"to 'provide a vending standwith a folding "cahopyicomprisedof a hinged rigid roof memberwhich'c'anbe assembled to a canopy position and collapsed toa ventingwindow covering position and in which side rnembers of 'a hinged l2,896,106. Patented July 28, 1959 parent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of illustration there is shown in the accompanyingdrawings a preferred embodiment of this invention. This embodiment isshown for particular use with vending stand but it is to be understoodthat the canopy can be used in other applications and is not limitedthereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a vending stand equipped with the foldingcanopy shown in the knocked down and vending window covering position;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation taken similarly to Figure 1 showingthe canopy in the canopy assembled position;

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of a vending stand with the canopyin an assembled position taken from the left side of Figure 2; i

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure1 showing the arrangement of the members of the canopy in the knockeddown position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure2 showing the interengagement of the canopy roof member with the sidesupporting member in a locked position of the canopy assembly;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 6,-6 of Figure1 which {shows the retaining means for a supporting rod used with thesupporting side member;

line 7-7 of Figure 1 showing a retaining means for the terminal portionof the side member supporting rod;

Figure ,8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one end oftheassembled canopy showing the means for supporting the canopy and theinterengagement of the roof and side supporting members;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation taken at the rightside of Figure 1 showing the bottom right hand. corner of the roof andthe right hand end of the roof supporting member locked to the vendingstand in the vending window covering position; 9

Figure 10 is a view in section taken on the line 1010 of Figure 9showing a locking device for retaining the roof supporting member of thecanopy against the vending stand; i i

. Figure 11 is a view in section taken on the line 1111 of Figure 9showing further details of construction of the locking device forretaining the canopy in a vending window covering position; i e 1 Figure12 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken at the upper right hand cornerof Figure 8 showing the means for locking the roof supporting member toone.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the vending stand is generally indicated by thereference numeral 20. It may be supported on a conventional trailer in amanner well known to the art so that it may be' transported from onelocation, to another. "The vending stand provided with two side Figure 7is an enlarged view in section taken on the windows 21 and a pair offolding canopies which are adapted to be assembled in a raised positionas shown in- Figure 3. The canopies are designated in Figure 3 by thereference numerals 22 and 23.

The vending stand 20-has four corner posts 24 which are identical inconstruction. For the purpose of reinforcement and to provide a base forthe canopy, side braces 25 and end braces 26 are connected between theposts to provide rigidity to the stand. As will be apparent below, theside brace 25 and the corner posts 24 provide all the structure neededto retain the canopy and to provide for the locking of the canopy eitherin the canopy assembled position or in the knocked down window coveringposition shown in Figures 1 and 3 respectively.

Both the canopies 22 and 23 are identical in construction and for thepurpose of description only the canopy 23 will be described. As bestshown in Figures 1, 5 and 8, the canopy 23 comprises as its essentialcomponents a'roof member 31, a hinged roof supporting member 32 and twohinged side supporting members 33 and 34 which serve to support the roofand roof supporting member in the canopy assembled position shown inFigures 5 and 8. The roof member 31 is hingedly supported to the brace25 by a longitudinally extending hinge 35. In similar fashion the roofsupporting member 32 is hingedly supported to the roof by alongitudinally extending hinge 36. Both the roof member and the roofsupporting member 32 as well as the side supporting members 33 and 34are all made of rigid materials of construction such as sheet metal inorder to provide for rigidity of the assembled canopy.

The roof supporting member 32 is further connected to the roof bybiasing springs 38 and 39 at opposed ends of the roof. These springsserve to bias the roof supporting member to a perpendicular positionwith respect to the roof as shown in Figure 5. This biasing constructionaids in the maintenance of a locked interengagement of the roofsupporting member with'the side supporting members as will furtherappear. Both biasing springs 38 and 39 are secured at one end to theroof member and at the other ends to the roof supporting member toeffect this biasing operation. 7

The mechanism for locking the roof supporting member upon the sidesupporting members is best shown in Figures 5, 8, 12 and 13. Thus, theroof supporting member 32 will be seen'to be a generally dish-shapedconstruction by virtue of a peripherally extending flange 41 whichextends around both sides and the bottom side. The side flange which isdesignated 41' is provided with a strip 42 which is spaced from the sideflange to receive a protecting portion of the side supporting member andto provide for locking, as best shown in Figure 12. A lip 43 extendsdownwardly between the side flange 41 and the strip 42 and is adapted toreceive a projecting tongue 44 of the side supporting member which fitsunderneath it as appears in Figure 13. The tongue 44 is provided at thecorner portion of the side supporting member to provide for theinterengaging relationship shown in said Figure 13.

Both side supporting members 33 and 34 are identical in construction aswill be apparent in the drawings, and only the side supporting member 34will be described. This member in addition to the tongue constructionpreviously described, and shown in Figures 12 and 13, is provided with asupport bar 47 in order to maintain the locked position and rigidrelationship for the vending stand. The support bar 47 is pivotallyconnected by means of a pivot hinge 48 at a medial portion of thesupporting side member as appears in Figure 5. The other end of thesupport bar 47 is provided with a hook portion 49 as appears inFigure 1. The hooked portion is adapted to fit within an eye 51 providedin the retaining member 52 shown in Figure 8. The retaining member 52,and likewise the retaining member 53, both shown in Figure l ai'efurther provided with receiving portions to receive the supporting barwhen the canopy is in the knocked down position. A means for moving theside supporting member 34 from the knocked down position shown in Figure1 to the roof supporting position shown in Figure 5 is effected by ahinge 54 which hingedly connects the side supporting member to thecorner post 24.

In order to lock the roof and the roof supporting member in the windowcovering position shown in Figure 1, a lock is' provided. This lock isdesignated by the reference numeral 60 and is best shown in Figures 1,9, 10 and 11. The lock comprises a handle 61 and a threaded shank 62which fits through holes in the corner post 24 so that it may berotated. A lock nut 63 is provided to tighten the lock. A hooked portion64 is provided at one end and is of a size to fit through a slot 65provided in the lower right hand corner of the roof supporting member asshown in Figure 9. In the position shown in Figures 9, 10. and 1.1 theroof and roof supporting, member are locked in the window coveringposition with the lock nut shown adjusted tightly to effect the propersecuring of the apparatus. Upon loosening of the lock nut 63, the handle61 may be rotated one-quarter revolution to a counterclockwise positionas shown in Figures 9 and 11 to permit the unlocking of the roofsupporting member when the canopy is desired to be set up to theassembled position.

Use

The canopy assembly is shown in the knocked down or vending windowcovering position in Figure 1. From this position it is very simply andvery quickly adapted to 'be set up in the canopy assembled positionshown in Figures 2, 3, 5 and 8. This is of very great advantage tovending stand operators in changing their stands from one location toanother.

From the position shown in Figures 1 and 4 the canopy may be simply setup by first removing the side supporting member rods 47 from theretaining brackets 52 and 53. When this is done, the side supportingmembers 33 and 34 are both moved away from the supporting brace 25 to aperpendicular position. When this relationship is attained, the sidesupporting rods 47 are hooked and locked to the retaining brackets 52 asshown in Figure 8 by insertion of the hooked portions 49 into the eyes51. This operation firmly anchors the side supporting members in theperpendicular position.

The roof member 31 and the roof supporting member 32 are then releasedfrom the locked position by the rotation of the locking member 60. Whenthese locking devices are rotated to present the hooked portion 64 overthe slot 65, shown in Figure 9, the roof supporting member 32 will bereleased and will automatically move to a right angle or perpendicularposition with respect to the roof member 31.

The roof member 31 together with the roof supporting member 32 may thenbe manually elevated to a raised position and swung about the hinge 35to approach a locking and supporting position with respect to the sidesupporting members.

As the roof member and the roof supporting members are raised, the roofsupporting member may be moved slightly away from'the perpendicularposition with respect to the roof about the hinge 36 and against theforce of the biasing spring so that it may hook over the terminal tongue44 of the side supporting members. In this operation the projectingflange 41 and the lip 43 are hooked over the tongue 44 as shown inFigures 12 and 13. By this operation the end of the side supportingmembers will be nested within the flange end 41 shown in Figure 12 andthe supporting strip 42. This arrangement prevents lateral and verticalmovement of the side supporting members with respect to the roof androof supporting members and provides for a secure locking arrangement.The biasing spring helps to maintain this locking arrangement by biasingthe roof supporting member 32 to the perpendicular position andin thelocked relationship with the side supporting member 34 as appears inFigure 5.

' By the sequence of operations described above, it will be apparentthat the roof may .be locked with respect to theside supporting membersby a very easy sequence of steps. The setting up of the canopy in thecanopy assembled position can take place in a matter of seconds and asis apparent from the description above, no tools are required in thisassembly.

, Once the canopy has been assembled as mentioned above, the reversedoperation or breakdown to the window covering position is very simplyeffected. The first step will be the disengagement of the roofsupporting member from the tongue 44. This is accomplished byslightly'lifting the roof and swinging back the roof supporting member.against the force of the biasing spring 39, This efiectively. disengagesthe roof supporting member from the side supporting member, and the roofwill swing down of its own weight about the hinge 35. The roof and roofsupporting member may then be very simply locked to the vending stand.

The locking operation is eifected by inserting the hooked portion 64 ofthe lock shank 62 through the opening 65 in the roof supporting memberand then turning thelock a quarter revolution to bear against the sideof the roof supporting member. When this has been cifected the lock nut63'i's tightened. V I

Both thef side supporting members 33 and 34.will then be very simplylocked in place. This is effected by swinging the sidesupporting memberagainst the brace 2510 .theposition shown in Figure 1. ,In this positionthe supporting rods47" may be placed in the retaining brackets 52 and 53to effectively lock the side supporting members in place.

When the canopy is collapsed to the window covering position shown inFigure 1, all the parts are securely locked in place. This is ofadvantage through the very simple collapsing operation above describedsince no tools of any type are required to effectuate the collapsing andlocking of the component parts. Further no protuberances or complicatedequipment is presented and the simple nature of the apparatus and theoperations employed are of great value in providing simply operated andconstructed canopies for vending stands. Further, when the canopy iscollapsed the parts are securely locked in position to withstand thevibration and rigor of travel when the stand is moved from one locationto another. Also, the stand through the covering of the windows isprotected against the hazards of weather, theft and vandalism.

Various changes and modification may be made in the canopy of thisinvention. It will be apparent that the canopy may be utilized in anydesired structure and is not restricted to vending stands where it does,how ever, find particular advantage. Such changes and modifications asare apparent to those skilled in the art are within the teaching of thisinvention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible canopy comprising a roof and a pair of spacedsupporting side members, means for retaining said roof upon a verticalwall in hinged relation substantially flush with the bottom of the sidemembers, means for supporting said side members at opposite sides of theroof upon the wall in hinged relation above the roof and engaging meanson said side members for supporting the roof in elevated canopyassembled position, said side members being oppositely swingable withrespect to said wall from a position substantially flush with the wallto a substantially perpendicularly extending roof supporting position.

2. A collapsible canopy comprising a roof and a pair of spacedsupporting side members, means for retaining said roof upon a verticalwall in hinged relation, means for supporting said side members atopposite sides of the roof upon the wall in hinged relation and engagingmeans on said side members for supporting the roof in elevated canopyassembled position, said side members being oppositely swingable withrespect to said wall from a position substantially flush with the wallto a substantially perpendicularly extending roof supporting position,and means for retaining said side members against the wall in the flushposition and for supporting said side member against movement in theperpendicularly extending roof supporting position comprising supportingrods engageable with retaining elements secured upon said wall. V

3. A collapsible canopy comprising :a roof member, a roof supportingmember and a pair of spaced supporting side members, means for retainingsaid roof member upon a vertical wall in hinged relation substantiallyflush with the bottom of the side members, means for retaining said roofsupporting member upon the roof member in hinged relation, .means forsupporting said side members upon the wall in hinged relation above theroof, and means on said side members engaging the roof supporting memberin vertical position for supporting the same and the roof member in anelevated canopy assembled position.

4. A collapsible canopy comprising a roof member, a roof supportingmember and a pair of spaced supporting side members, means for retainingsaid roof member upon a vertical wall in hinged relation substantiallyflush with the bottom of the side members, means for retaining said roofsupporting member upon the roof member in hinged relation, said roofsupporting member having means biasing it to a position perpendicular tothe roof member, means for supporting said side members upon the wall inhinged relation above the roof, and means on said side members engagingthe roof supporting member in vertical position for supporting the sameand the roof member in an elevated canopy assembled position.

5. A collapsible canopy comprising a roof member, a roof supportingmember and a pair of spaced supporting side members, means for retainingsaid roof member upon a vertical wall in hinged relation substantiallyflush with the bottom of the side members, means for retaining said roofsupporting member upon the roof member in hinged relation, said roofsupporting member having means biasing it to a position perpendicular tothe roof member, means for supporting said side members upon the wall inhinged relation above the roof, and catch means on said side membersengaging a. hooked element on said roof supporting member for supportingthe same in vertical position and the roof member in an elevated canopyassembled position.

6. A collapsible canopy comprising a roof member, a roof supportingmember and a pair of spaced supporting side members, means for retainingsaid roof member upon a vertical wall in hinged relation substantiallyflush with the bottom of the side members, means for retainng said roofsupporting member upon the roof member 1n hinged relation, said roofsupporting member having means biasing it to a position perpendicular tothe roof member, means for supporting said side members upon the Wall inhinged relation above the roof, and catch means on said side membersengaging a. hooked element on said roof supporting member for supportingthe same in vertical position and the roof member in an elevated canopyassembled position, said roof supporting member being disengageable fromthe side members and adapted to be lowered from the elevated to alowered substantially vertical position.

7. A collapsible canopy comprising a roof member, a roof supportingmember and a pair of spaced supporting side members, means for retainingsaid roof member upon a vertical wall in hinged relation substantiallyflush with the bottom of the side members, means for retaining said roofsupporting member upon the roof member in hinged relation, saidroofsupporting member having means biasing it to a position perpendicular tothe roof memben-means 'for supporting said side members upon the wallin'hing'ed relation above the roof, and catch means on said side membersengaging a hooked element on said roof supporting member for supportingthe same in vertical position and the roof member in an elevated canopyassembled position, said roof supporting member being disengageable fromthe side members and adapted to be lowered from the elevated to alowered substantially vertical position to cover a window in said wall,and means for locking said roof and roof supporting member.

8. A collapsible canopy comprising a roof member, a roof supportingmember and a pair of spaced supporting side members, means for retainingsaid roof member upon a vertical wall in hinged relation substantiallyflush with the bottom of the-side members, means for retaining said roofsupporting member upon the roof member in hinged relation, saidroofsupporting member having means biasing it to a position perpendicular tothe roof member, means for supporting said side members upon the wall inhinged relation above the roof, and catch means on said side membersengaging a hooked element 8 member against a portion of the wallbounding said window.

9. A collapsible canopy comprising a roof member, a-roof supportingmember and a pair of spaced sup-porting side-members, meansfor retainingsaid roof member upon a vertical wall in hinged relation, means forretaining said roof supporting member upon the roof member in hingedrelation, said roof supporting memberhaving means biasing it to'a'position perpendicular to the roof member, means for supporting saidside members upon the wall in hinged relation, and catch means on saidside members engaging a hooked element on said roof supporting memberfor supporting the same and the roof member in an elevated canopyassembled position, said roof supporting member being disengageable fromthe side members and adapted to be lowered from the elevated to alowered substantially vertical position, said side members beingoppositely swingable with res'pectto said wall from a positionsubstantially flush with the wall to a substantially perpendicularlyextending roof supporting position.

on said roof supporting member for supporting the same 2 ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS r 252,093 FoxJan. 10, 1882 1,809,028 Fanarjian June 9, 1931 1,889,760 Peters Dec. 6,1932 2,004,674 Quisenberry June 11, 1935 2,102,203 Groenewold Dec. 14,1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 191,891 Great Britain Jan; 25, 1923

